Kenya’s shopping-mall landscape has changed dramatically over the past decade, with developers constructing increasingly large retail centers in Nairobi and other major urban areas.

The latest entrant in the mega-mall race, Business Bay Square (BBS) Mall in Eastleigh, has shifted the rankings, taking the top spot with 130,000 square meters.

It overtook Two Rivers Mall, which has 67,000 square meters of gross lettable area, while NextGen Mall and Garden City Mall also rank among the country’s largest retail developments.

However, Kenya’s retail-property market is now entering a different phase. Knight Frank’s latest market assessment says developers are increasingly shifting towards neighborhood and community shopping centers and mixed-use developments, with less emphasis on very large regional malls.

  1. BBS Mall – 130,000 square meters

Business Bay Square (BBS) is located along General Waruinge Street in Eastleigh, Nairobi, and is currently the largest shopping complex in Kenya, at 130,000 square meters.

The mall opened to the public in 2023 and was developed in phases. the development includes retail facilities, banks and microfinance institutions, restaurants, medical facilities, offices, entertainment and recreational facilities, as well as a mosque and children’s playground.

The complex has more than 1,500 retail stores and parking capacity for more than 1,500 vehicles.

BBS has also attracted major retailers, including Carrefour as the main retailer, as well as fashion, beauty, electronics, food, and other businesses.

Major shopping brands inside the mall include Carrefour, Giordano, Town Team, and Miniso. The mall also has beauty and health retailers, including Super Cosmetics, Lintons Beauty World and Goodlife Pharmacy. For technology and electronics, BBS Mall has Oraimo and Juba Electronics & Phone Store, which stock devices from brands such as Samsung, Apple, Oppo, Tecno and Infinix.

The mall also houses KCB Bank, Gulf African Bank and Premier Bank, providing banking services to shoppers, businesses and visitors. Dining options include Java House, while the mall’s specialized retail offering includes a Gold Souk.

  1. Two Rivers Mall – 67,000 square meters

Two Rivers Mall on Limuru Road in Nairobi’s Runda area comes second. It has 67,000 square meters of gross lettable area and 200 stores.

The mall opened in February 2017 and combines conventional shopping with restaurants, entertainment and leisure attractions.

Its wider mixed-use development includes offices, residences and hospitality facilities. The retail center has Carrefour as a major anchor and has hosted international brands including LC Waikiki.

Major shopping brands inside the mall include Chandarana Foodplus,China Square. It laso has Fashion and apparel, including LC Waikiki,Mr Price, Heilan Home, Levi’s,  Pierre Cardin, Giordano, Woolworths and Swarovski. For Technology, Samsung and OPPO are inside the mall.

Restaurants and cafés inside Two Rivers Mall include Artcaffé, Burger King, and Nove Coffee Roasters. The mall also includes entertainment and leisure facilities such asg Century Cinemax, Magic Plane,t, and The Eye of Kenya.

  1. NextGen Mall – 65,000 square meters

NextGen Mall, along Mombasa Road, was opened in 2016 and is among Kenya’s largest retail developments with 65,000 square meters, according to Knight Frank’s shopping-center research. The development forms part of the broader NextGen commercial project serving Nairobi’s southern corridor and commuters using Mombasa Road.

  1. Garden City Mall – up to 50,000 square meters

Garden City Mall on Thika Superhighway follows, with a planned overall retail space of 50,000 square meters. Its first phase opened with approximately 33,500 square meters of retail space, before the development was designed to expand.

Its first phase opened to the public on May 28, 2015, with an integrated mixed-use project combining retail, residential, and office space.

Carrefour Market anchors the mall, while its current tenant mix includes Panda Mart, Artcaffe Coffee & Bakery, Java House, Mambo Italia, KFC, Big Square, and Cold Stone Creamery. Other listed brands include Samsung, Safaricom, Airtel, Salute iWorld, and TACC.

Beyond shopping, Garden City has developed into an entertainment and family destination. Its facilities include Century Cinemax, a 9D VR digital movie experience, Kids Palace, Virtual Delight VR, a children’s playground, a water-fountain play area, and an amphitheater.

  1. The Hub Karen – about 35,000 square meters

The Hub Karen is an open-air shopping and lifestyle center along Dagoretti Road in Karen, Nairobi, which opened in 2016. The Hub Karen occupies 35,000 square meters. The mall has more than 85 stores, over 1,200 parking spaces, and more than 1,300 dining seats.

The mall combines retail outlets with restaurants, leisure attractions, open spaces and an artificial lake.

The mall’s anchor tenants include Carrefour, which occupies 5,000 square meters of shopping space, IHUB Scapes and Furniture Palace.

Its fashion and retail offering includes Vivo Woman, Sandstorm, Bata, Bossman, LC Waikiki, Woolworths Kenya, Max, Aldo and PUMA. In contrast, sports and outdoor retailers include Decathlon Sports, Adidas and Nairobi Sports House.

The beauty and wellness section includes Yves Rocher, M.A.C, Fragrance Lounge, Healthy U and Ava Pharmacy. Food and dining options include KFC, Artcaffe, Burger King, Domino’s Pizza, Subway, Roast by Carnivore, La Cascina, Spur Steak Ranch, The Mayura and Ethiopian Restaurant. KFC is also listed in the mall’s current store directory.

Family and leisure facilities include open gardens, two piazzas, an artificial lake and an adventure area featuring a zip-line. The mall also has elevators, escalators, ATMs, an information desk, a mother’s room, a prayer room, battery-charging facilities and cab services.

Why Kenya is Moving Beyond Mega Malls

According to Knight Frank’s latest Kenya Market report, Kenya’s retail industry is moving away from an exclusive focus on huge shopping centers. More than 230,000 square feet of new lettable retail space entered the market in 2025, with much of the new supply concentrated in neighborhood and community malls.

Completed projects included Beacon Mall in Upper Hill, OUR Mall on Magadi Road, Waris Mall in Ruai, and Promenade Mall in Westlands.

The shift is partly driven by changing consumer spending patterns. Knight Frank reported that high taxes and constrained disposable incomes have made shoppers more value-conscious, while supermarkets and retailers are increasingly expanding into residential neighborhoods to bring goods closer to consumers.

Knight Frank also noted that Major supermarket chains remain important to malls because they attract customers who then visit other shops. By December 2025, Naivas had reached 113 stores nationwide, while Carrefour had expanded to 34 outlets. Established malls are adding entertainment, leisure, events, and food offerings to encourage visitors to spend more time within the complexes. At the same time, developers are planning smaller projects closer to residential communities.

Rank Mall Location Size (sq m) Shopping units Year opened
1 BBS Mall General Waruinge Street, Eastleigh, Nairobi 130,000 3,500+ 2023
2 Two Rivers Mall Limuru Road, Runda/Rosslyn, Nairobi 67,000 198 2017
3 NextGen Mall Mombasa Road, Nairobi 65,000 475 2016
4 Mega City Shopping Complex Nairobi–Kisumu Road, Kisumu 54,455 Not publicly disclosed 2005
5 Village Market Gigiri, Nairobi 46,452 150+ 1995
6 Rupa’s Mall Nairobi Road, Eldoret 35,000 50+ 2017
7 The Hub Karen Karen, Nairobi 35,000 85+ 2016
8 Garden City Mall Thika Road, Nairobi 33,500 100+ 2015
9 Sarit Westlands, Nairobi 30,000 200+ 1983
10 Westgate Shopping Mall Westlands, Nairobi 30,000 80+ 2007
11 Nyali Centre Nyali, Mombasa 30,658 Not publicly disclosed 2012
12 The Junction Mall Ngong Road, Nairobi 26,000 115+ 2004
13 Southfield Mall Airport North Road, Embakasi, Nairobi 25,000 Not publicly disclosed 2017
14 Signature Mall Mombasa Road, Nairobi 24,092 100+ 2018
15 City Mall Nyali Links Road, Nyali, Mombasa 20,000 100+ 2011
16 Prestige Plaza Ngong Road, Nairobi 16,723 65+ 2000
17 Westside Mall Kenyatta Avenue, Nakuru 15,000 40 2011
18 Zion Mall Malaba Road, Eldoret 15,000 35 2011
19 Yaya Centre Hurlingham, Nairobi 13,500 100+ 1989
20 Capital Centre Mombasa Road, Nairobi 13,006 60+ 2004

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Kenya's Largest Shopping Malls: Size, Location, Shops and Facilities
Photo collage of Junction Mall and TRM. PHOTO/Trip Advisor